Saturday, 29 June 2013

A flamboyant film-maker, who directed Dame Helen Mirren in 'Hamlet', has been arrested at least five times in the last eighteen months and is barred from his local pub for constantly causing trouble.

Celestino Coronado, 68, of Chelsea Court, Embankment Gardens, Chelsea - the writer/producer/director of the 1976 Shakespeare production - has even been the subject of an ASBO application, but it was dropped.

He has recently been convicted of assaulting a man in Peter Jones department store, Sloane Square and has received further convictions for assault, criminal damage and threatening behaviour.

Coronado, who was also the producer/director of a 1985 television production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, was convicted in a separate case of causing £250 worth of criminal damage to a Seat Leon car in west London.

He has also been arrested and charged with harassment; assaulting a police officer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and assaulting a barmaid at the Chelsea Potter pub, Kings Road.

In yet another recent court hearing three days ago the pub's supervisor Claire Smith told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "He is barred and he has been told this many times.

"He did his usual: 'Who are you? You can't tell me what to do. Who do you think you are?' and he refused to leave.

"He had a bottle of wine on him, which we do not serve, and a member of staff took it off him.

"He said: 'That's mine. How dare you,' and tried to grab the bottle and pushed her back.

"She stumbled back and almost fell down, using her hand to save herself.

"He was up, jumping around, and went into the road dancing around and he stood in front of a car, stopping it getting past."

The pub staff reported Coronado's behaviour to the police and he was arrested, but was cleared of any offence due to evidential difficulties.

Friday, 28 June 2013

A young mother-of-five, who kept
her lucrative student loans and grants secret, has admitted a £47,000
benefit swindle.Aziza Abouoff, 28, (pictured) of
Lewis Road, Sidcup, south-east London was committed to the crown
court for sentencing.Bromley Magistrates' Court heard
she illegally obtained £42,988 in housing benefit and £4,678 in
council tax benefit.Abouoff, who is estranged from her
husband, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to notify a change
of circumstances to the London Borough of Bexley on dates between
September 23, 2007 and October 3, 2010.The charges relate to University
of Greenwich loans amounting to £6,615 and £8,975 and grants
amounting to £1,000 and £11,486.Greenwich School of Management
loans of £8,975 and £7,088 and grants of £16,827 and £7,025.

Thursday, 27 June 2013

A cannabis smuggler, who tried to sneak
£76,000 worth of the drug through Gatwick Airport in tins of
pineapple, has been jailed for twelve months.

Chanelle Walters,30, pleaded guilty
at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to importing 27.6 kilos of cannabis
from Jamaica on December 3, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Keith Hadrill told the
court Walters was stopped by UK Border Agency officers as she tried
to catch a connecting flight to Manchester in a mobility carrier.

The traveller's two suitcases were
checked and within the tins of pineapple and other assorted tinned
foods the cannabis was found.

“She said she had a free holiday and
had been provided with the two suitcases,” added Mr. Hadrill,
confirming Walters' travelling companion was cleared of drug
smuggling.

“She said she has a sugar-daddy that
treats her to all sorts of gifts.

“It was thought baggage bound for
Manchester would not come under such close inspection at Gatwick and
the labels on them showed an address that did not exist.”

Lupus-sufferer Walters' lawyer Mr.
George Hepburn said: “She did not have any knowledge of the
operation until she was in Jamaica, but she admitted to cannabis and
crack cocaine use since she was a teenager.

“She doesn't name the man because he
is a family man with two children and she now says, looking back,
that she thinks the sugar daddy set them up.

“The day before leaving two men came
up to her room and said she had to take a package back to Manchester.

“One of them had a gun and told her
if she did not do it she would end up in a bush.

“She knew it wa drugs and was
relieved it was not cocaine.”

Recorder Andrew McCooey, sentencing
Walters to twelve months imprisonment, told her: “Had you not been
under the influence of these sinister people in Jamaica you would not
be here today.

“You must learn your lesson now and
have nothing to do with drugs.”

Walters, who has been in custody since her arrest, qualified for immediate release.

Wednesday, 26 June 2013

Prince William and Harry's party pal Guy Pelly appeared in court today accused of drink-driving in his £50,000 Audi sports car.

The 31 year-old nightclub boss, who owns the Mexican-themed Tonteria - where the princes partied earlier this month is fighting the charge.

Pelly, 31, (pictured) of Sheffield Terrace, Kensington has pleaded not guilty to driving his Audi R8 in Sloane Street, Belgravia on May 28 while the proportion of alcohol in his breath was 52 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

He is rumoured to have organised the future king's stag party and was joint best man with Prince William at last weekend's society wedding of the year of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee in Alnwick, Northumberland.

He has his own distinguished family tree - grandmother Monica was a member of the Tate & Lyle sugar dynasty and his friendship with Harry stems from their participation with the Beaufort Hunt.

Pelly pleaded not guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court and his solicitor Barry Warburton will argue the calibration of the alcohol intoximeter at Belgravia Police Station was deficient.

The defence claim a "long blow" resulted in an incorrect high reading and Pelly should have been given the option of a blood or urine sample.

They have also asked for CCTV evidence of the breath-test to be released by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Pelly was released on unconditional bail until July 24 when a trial date will be set.

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Two Italian sisters, accused of defrauding celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and her husband Charles Saatchi while employed as personal assistants, will stand trial later this year.

Elisabetta Grillo, 40, and Francesca Grillo, 34, both of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater will fight the allegations before an Isleworth Crown Court jury.

Both were committed from Hammersmith Magistrates' Court last month on a charge of fraud by abuse of position between January 1, 2008 and December 31, last year in that while occupying the positions of personal assistants for the Conarco Partnership dishonestly abused that position by using the company credit card for personal gain.

Elisabetta is charged with defrauding £58,744 and Francesca £266,827.

Both are on bail on condition they surrender their passports to the police and do not apply for any travel documents that would allow them to leave the United Kingdom.

It is alleged the company credit card was abused when funding a £3,616 Virgin Atlantic flight to New York and purchasing designer goods from Prada, Miu Miu and Chanel.

The sisters were first employed by Nigella when she was married to her late first husband John Diamond, who died of cancer in 2001, aged forty-seven.

They continued working for the chef when she married Charles Saatchi in September, 2003, but were sacked last year.

It was an ugly end to their long-term relationship with Nigella, who wrote of them in her 2011 cookery book 'Recipes From The Heart Of The Home': "I give heartfelt thanks to…my kitchen confidantes: Lisa and Francesca Grillo."

Monday, 24 June 2013

An insurance fraudster, who was
exposed claiming nearly £17,000 in unemployment mortgage and salary
cover, when his son told investigators: “My dad's at work,” has
been sentenced.Mechanic Anwar Dadabhoy, 47, of Lakeside Avenue, Ilford, was recorded by an undercover surveillance
team running a local car repair business while pocketing compensation
from two insurance companies.He was even watched driving away
from his home early in the morning in a car adorned with his firm's
livery.The first-time offender appeared
at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to fraud by false
representation between August 16, 2011 and March 2, last year in
relation to £8,885 in mortgage protection insurance paid by Aviva.He also pleaded guilty to fraud by
false representation between August 14, 2011 and June 10, last year
in relation to £6,110 in employment insurance paid by AGEAS.Dadabhoy was sentenced at a twelve
month community order, which includes 120 hours community service
work.He put in claims on both policies,
declaring he had become unemployed on August 13, 2011.From time to time checks were made
and on January the eighth, last year a call was made to the
defendant's home and the person who answered said they were Mr.
Dadabhoy's son and that he was at work.The next day the defendant tried
to dig himself out of trouble by contacting his insurers.He said his son was not well and
that he had been out at the Jobcentre the previous day.A surveillance operation was
mounted, which recorded Dadabhoy regularly leaving for work at 8am in
a Smart car adorned with a AD Motors advertising.
He was seen working on vehicles
and wearing latex gloves and gave an undercover investigator his
business car and a quote to inspect a vehicle.He was seen dealing hands-on with
inspections and repairs even though he declared he was still
unemployed and had not taken on work.He later said he was suffering
with depression and was doing voluntary work at his son's garage.Dadabhoy was questioned at home on
July 4, last year and admitted he was the sole owner of AD Motors,
but had ceased trading on April 27 due to lack of custom.He agreed to repay his insurers at
the rate of £50 per month and has paid £200 so far.The insurers also incurred
additional costs of £2,941 in surveillance and investigation charges
and a confiscation order was sought.Dadabhoy was also ordered to pay
compensation within seven days.

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Actor Steven Berkoff has denied driving his VW Beetle without due care and attention when he struck a female pedestrian crossing the road in the busy West End.

The 75 year-old veteran of stage, screen and television appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court, where the case was adjourned for a trial on August 27.

Berkoff, of Narrow Street, Canary Wharf, who recently appeared in lavish television costume drama 'The Borgias' and hit movie 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' told the court the pedestrian was to blame.

However, he did plead guilty to driving in Oxford Street last New Year's Eve without a valid licence because he was using a United States licence, which is only valid for one year and will be sentenced for the offence at the conclusion of his trial.

He was not represented in court and pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention, in Oxford Street at 6pm on December 31, last year by stopping and signalling for a pedestrian to cross, but then overtaking a small car and hitting the pedestrian's leg.

Berkoff told the court: "I was driving along Oxford Street, it is a very, very slow journey, a very busy shopping area and the car in front of me slowed down and stopped.

"I signalled and slowly overtook the car and as I was overtaking at five to seven miles per hour two women dashed across the road at enormous speed.

"I braked, but accidentally just nipped one of the ladies on the leg.

"Where they crossed the road, there was no zebra, no lights in busy Oxford Street.

"They thought they would make a quick dash. I think that they were totally responsible.

"My driving is reasonable and competent and in thirty years of driving I haven't had one accident, just maybe gone through traffic lights once or twice.

"My driving was competent and always is."

After initially denying the licence charge Berkoff admitted ignorance was no defence, adding: "I have an american licence as I have been living in LA, coming back and forth for many years and i was told that it was valid, but now I have been told it is valid for only one year.

"I am flying back and forth between La and London, a lot of my work takes place in America, where I was last week."

The prosecution will call one police officer and two civilian witnesses and Berkoff told the court he had no witnesses.

Saturday, 22 June 2013

A Milton Keynes commuter, who
denied aggressively calling a ticket inspector a “fucking dickhead”
while grabbing his jacket, looked pleased after accepting a bindover yesterday.Father-of-three Stephen Archer,
41, of Church Road, Brickhill was accused of queue-jumping at busy
Euston station during the evening rush-hour.A ticket inspector who challenged
him told police the defendant was verbally abusive and grabbed him,
but the charges were dropped after Archer conceded his behaviour was
out of line.He was found not guilty at City of
London Magistrates' Court of assaulting Benjamin Johnson and using
threatening behaviour on November 16, last year and was boundover in
the sum of £200 for twelve months.“The defendant was walking down
the ramp to platform six, where there was a queue forming and the
defendant was seen walking to the side by a ticket inspector,”
explained prosecutor Mr. Satya Chotalia.“When he asked to see his ticket
Mr. Archer aggressively called him a: 'Fucking dickhead,' ansd
grabbed the ticket inspector's jacket.“It turned out Mr. Archer did
have a valid ticket for travel and it was a minor assault, a grabbing
of the jacket.“He was not trying to fare
evade, but just get to his train quicker.”Archer's lawyer Mr. James Lester
said: “He is a professional man with a young family and had never
been arrested before.“He wished to apologise at the
time for his conduct, his behaviour fell well short of the standards
he sets himself in his life that evening.“He wishes to apologise in open
court for his behaviour.“There was no intent to fare
evade and there was no obligation to queue because there were other
entrances to that concourse.“He has caused embarrasment to
himself, his family and his employers as a result of this incident.“He did have a couple of
alcoholic drinks that evening and that may have had an effect.”Archer, who maintains his good
character, was ordered to pay £500 costs.

Friday, 21 June 2013

A convicted rapist, who
attacked a woman in an alleyway twenty years ago, has been cleared of
molesting a nine year-old girl.

Daniel Borgers, 41, (pictured) of
Napier Crescent, Scarborough was arrested and charged after the
girl's step-father read about the rape conviction in a local
newspaper.

However, a Blackfriars
Crown Court jury acquitted the serving prisoner of sexually
assaulting the girl, then aged nine, at an address in Monklands,
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire in March, 2007.

Borgers, who is serving
seven-and-a-half years, breathed a noticable sigh of relief and
nodded his head in affirmation of the jury's verdict.

His parents, who supported
him throughout the trial, were also visably relieved and his mother
broke down in tears.

He raped a woman in her
40's in a Stotfold, Bedfordshire, alleyway in October, 1992 as she
walked home from a relative's house on a footpath between Arlesey
Road and Mixies one evening.

Borgers grabbed her from
behind and forced her to the floor, raped her and ran away,
threatening to slit her throat.

He was arrested when DNA
taken by North Yorkshire Police after a minor drugs offence matched
the rapist's semen sample.

The case was widely
reported and the Letchworth Garden City girl's step-father, knowing
the family had contact with Borgers several years earlier, quizzed
her about him.

She said Borgers had
toucher her one night as she shared a bed with her step-brother, but
had kept most of the intimate details secret out of embarrasment.

“One night she was
asleep in her brother's bed when she was awoken by a shadow passing
across her face,” prosecutor Miss Isabel Dellamere told the jury.

“She saw the defendant
there and he was touching her softly up and down her legs and touched
her chest.

“She describes a
circular motion and Mr. Borgers grabbing her breasts and she says he
was trying to move the nightdress up.

“Using his palms he
touched her thighs and then touched the inside of her thighs and she
describes him breathing heavily.

“She shouted for her mum
who came to the door and asked what Mr. Borgers was doing there and
the defendant said he was just talking.”

The jury was told that
sometimes Borgers would sleep with the girl's mother and sometimes
sleep in the girl's bed alone when he arrived drunk, while she shared
with her brother.

“She describes the
defendant as someone who gave her cuddles and tickles a lot,” added
Miss Dellamere.”

The jury were shown a
videoed police interview in which the girl told officers: “I woke
up and Dan was crouched down on the floor and was touching me softly,
rubbing up and down my leg and my breasts and I could hear heavy
breathing.

“I was frightened to say
anything, because I was only nine.

“I was shocked and
uncomfortable.

“I think that was the
whole thing, he was trying to move the nightie up.

'There was deep heavy
breathing and I could feel it down my neck, that was while he was
touching my boob with one hand first of all.”

After three or four
minutes her mother came to the bedroom door and Borgers left, but
even though this was a one-off the witness said his behaviour on
other occasions was inappropriate.

“When he came in he
would want to cuddle me and tickle my side. I thought it was a bit
weird for mum's boyfriend to do that kind of thing.

“It was about a week
later that I told my mum, but I don't think she believed me.

“I felt embarrassed
about telling me mum about the touching of the breasts.”

The court heard the girl's
new step-father asked her about Borgers when he read a newspaper
report in August, last year that named him.

She revealed to the family
for the first time: “He touched my boobs.”

Borgers was arrested on
August 24, last year and told police he was confused about the
lay-out of the three-bedroom house after drinking heavily and smoking
cannabis.

“He said in a 'fuzzy'
state he got into the wrong bedroom and got into the kids' bed,”
explained Miss Dellamere.

“He said when he
realised it was not their mother's bed he got up and curled up on the
floor.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

An "arrogant sexual predator" is starting a new life sentence for three more rapes, after his traumatised victims came forward - prompted by the notoriety surrounding his attacks on four other victims.

Serial rapist Brian Witty, 42, a former Territorial Army captain with the Parachute Regiment and City banker - described as "charming" by many of his victims - was already behind bars, but yesterday's sentencing increases his minimum term by four years.

He raped the professional women when they were all 19 year-old students - beating one severely and smirking with a smug look on his face after raping another.

"They describe him as somebody who is charming, confident on the verge of arrogance, violent and takes sex by force, using his physical strength if he is refused," prosecutor Mr. Edmund Gritt told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury.

Witty, of Marlow House, Twickenham Road, Teddington was convicted at the same court last year of three rapes and one sexual assault of four victims - prompting the three new victims to come forward after years of silence.

He was convicted of raping the first complainant, who is now a 43 year-old dentist at her Liverpool University hall of residence room in September or October, 1989; raping the second woman, now a 35 year-old nurse, at a Hull address in December, 1997 and raping the third, now a doctor, aged 35 at his former Kensington flat in the early hours of New Year's Day, 1998.

Judge Nicholas Price QC sentenced Witty to life imprisonment, with a twelve year minimum, telling him: "You were bullying, you were controlling, you were manipulative, you traumatised and devastated their lives.

"Your callous indifference to each of these victims speaks volumes about your character and you treated them with utter contempt and with each woman you wore no condom, which in itself was an exacerbating feature.

"You knew that each was telling the truth, but you showed no compassion in your decision to challenge their allegations and I have no doubt you will continue to protest your innocence on these charges."

Witty was warned by the judge to stop shaking his head in mock disbelief when the case was opened to the jury by the prosecution at the start of the trial.

The court heard Witty knew the first woman, who he met at Hull College of Further Education, where she was retaking her A-levels and was angry when she stood him up in Liverpool, where she had moved to study dentistry.

"Her first impression was that he was charming, fun and engaging, but also cocky and very confident," explained Mr. Gritt. "She soon discovered that Mr. Witty's personality had a different side that was intimidating, jealous and violent."

A witness once saw Witty twisting the student's arm until she said sorry to him for a joke he was offended by and he also beat her and parked outside her family's home in Hull to intimidate them, the jury were told.

After she moved to Liverpool he tracked her down and turned up at her lodgings.

"She was terrified, he held the door open, punched her and forced her back into the room," said Mr. Gritt. "He punched her repeatedly all over and she curled herself into a ball to protect herself.

"He sat on top of her, holding her down, and at one point put his hands around her neck.

"He pulled down her lower clothing and raped her. He was very strong and she was very frightened.

"Afterwards he started punching her again and she began screaming. The defendant continued shouting and hitting her and was enraged that she did not meet up with him."

She was left with a bleeding eye and lip and with bruising to her face and body, but only told people Witty had beaten her up.

The jury were told the second victim was staying overnight on a living-room sofa at an address in Hull Witty and a couple were also staying at.

"There in the small hours she was woken by this defendant, pulling her to the floor and he held her down and put his hand over her mouth," said Mr. Gritt.

"He was much stronger and she was frozen with fear and this defendant then raped her.

"He said nothing, but simply looked smug and he stood up with a smirk on his face as if something funny had just happened."

Again the victim did not report the rape and the jury were reminded Witty had raped before this date and was "confident" after being released without charge when arrested and questioned by police.

Days later Witty was celebrating the new year in London and agreed to look after a medical student, who was attending Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital, and could not get back home to Romford, Essex.

"Her friend fatefully introduced her to Mr. Witty as somebody who would look after her and eliminate the risk of her getting raped on the way home.

"The defendant reassured her that he did not have any ulterior motive, but sex was all that was on his mind and she thought he was the perfect gentleman."

The jury were told his Kensington flat had been the scene of a previous rape and again Witty attacked a lone female once he got her inside.

"He pushed her face-down on the bed, holding her arms above her, spread her legs and raped her," said Mr. Gritt. "She was shocked and scared and did not know what to do."

The young woman told her tutor, doctor and friends about the rape and they noticed bruising to both her arms, the court heard, but again the police were not informed.

Like the other two complainants she only went to the police after learning of Witty's convictions.

In May, last year he received life - with an eight-year minimum - for three rapes and a sexual assault committed between 1996 and 2011 after meeting the four victims on online dating sites or in smart bars.

He was arrested after each of the first three attacks, but was only charged after raping the fourth woman, a 42 year-old he met via DatingDirect.com and shared a drink with at a Richmond pub.

The first woman was raped after bumping into Witty at a Fulham pub, five months after they had a one-night stand, the second was sexually assaulted in a Covent Garden alley and the third raped after meeting him in a Twickenham pub.

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

A drunken child molester
groped his girlfriend's nine year-old daughter's breasts and thighs
as the youngster slept with her twin brother, a court heard yesterday.

Daniel Borgers, 41, (pictured) of
Napier Crescent, Scarborough was dating the girl's mother six years
ago and fondled the daughter during one of his regular sleepover's at
their home in Monklands, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire.

“One night she was
asleep in her brother's bed when she was awoken by a shadow passing
across her face,” prosecutor Miss Isabel Dellamere told the
Blackfriars Crown Court jury.

“She saw the defendant
there and he was touching her softly up and down her legs and touched
her chest.

“She describes a
circular motion and Mr. Borgers grabbing her breasts and she says he
was trying to move the nightdress up.

“Using his palms he
touched her thighs and then touched the inside of her thighs and she
describes him breathing heavily.

“She shouted for her mum
who came to the door and asked what Mr. Borgers was doing there and
the defendant said he was just talking.”

The jury was told that
sometimes Borgers would sleep with the girl's mother and sometimes
sleep in the girl's bed alone when he arrived drunk, while she shared
with her brother.

“She describes the
defendant as someone who gave her cuddles and tickles a lot,” added
Miss Dellamere.”

The jury were shown a
videoed police interview in which the girl told officers: “I woke
up and Dan was crouched down on the floor and was touching me softly,
rubbing up and down my leg and my breasts and I could hear heavy
breathing.

“I was frightened to say
anything, because I was only nine.

“I was shocked and
uncomfortable.

“I think that was the
whole thing, he was trying to move the nightie up.

'There was deep heavy
breathing and I could feel it down my neck, that was while he was
touching my boob with one hand first of all.”

After three or four
minutes her mother came to the bedroom door and Borgers left, but
even though this was a one-off the witness said his behaviour on
other occasions was inappropriate.

“When he came in he
would want to cuddle me and tickle my side. I thought it was a bit
weird for mum's boyfriend to do that kind of thing.

“It was about a week
later that I told my mum, but I don't think she believed me.

“I felt embarrassed
about telling me mum about the touching of the breasts.”

The court heard the girl's
new step-father asked her about Borgers when he read a newspaper
report in August, last year that named him.

She revealed to the family
for the first time: “He touched my boobs.”

Borgers was arrested on
August 24, last year and told police he was confused about the
lay-out of the three-bedroom house after drinking heavily and smoking
cannabis.

“He said in a 'fuzzy'
state he got into the wrong bedroom and got into the kids' bed,”
explained Miss Dellamere.

“He said when he
realised it was not their mother's bed he got up and curled up on the
floor.

Monday, 17 June 2013

The CEO of the Miss Nubian Foundation - a community interest company that promotes black entrepreneurship - has been convicted of a £7,800 insurance scam.

Jacqueline Wabara, 43, the former Miss Nigeria Europe beauty queen and boss of Wabara Public Relations lied in an effort to swindle a new engine for her Land Rover Freelander.

She portrayed herself at Wood Green Crown Court as depressed, jobless and penniless, but has been busy promoting what she describes as an "extravaganza" at the Hilton Hotel, Paddington in October when 2013's Miss Nubian Pageant winner will be crowned.

However, she was sentenced to a night-time curfew and must be at home during the event she is the figurehead and spokesperson for and is a highlight on the black social calendar.

University of Wolverhampton graduate Wabara, of Swaythling Close, Upper Edmonton pleaded guilty to fraud, by false representation, in relation to a claim on a Zurich insurance policy on November 12, 2010.

"I take a serious view of this," announced Recorder Robert Rhodes QC. "This was a deliberate fraudulent claim on an insurance company for several thousand pounds and lies were maintained to the last minute.

"Not only did she tell a pack of lies to the police she maintained it in her defence case statement."

Prosecutor Miss Dianne Chan told the court: "A claim was made that on November the eleventh there had been some criminal damage to her Freelander when a firework had got into the engine and caused it to fail."

The reality was a Green Flag recovery had been called out on November 6 and transported the broken-down vehicle to Wabara's address and two days later it was taken to a repair garage, where it remained for ten days.

It was not even outside the defendant's home when she claimed it had been damaged and the insurer's own engineers inspected the vehicle on November 18.

"It had severe mechanical damage, the oil had completely run out and the piston rods had caused a hole," explained Miss Chan.

"The insurance policy excluded mechanical damage, but the vehicle needed a new engine.

"The defendant said she had last driven it home from a friend's address, parked it outside, and woke up the next day and found fire damage.

"There was no mention to the insurers that it had already broken down."

The court heard Wabara, who has previous convictions - including shoplifting - has health and financial problems and is unable to work.

Her lawyer told the court Wabara is "embarrassed" about the offence and "suffers from depression."

She was described as a "community mentor" helping members of the community find employment.

"This was a deliberate, dishonest attempt to get nearly eight thousand pounds from an insurance company," Recorder Rhodes told Wabara, who the probation service deemed unsuitable for any unpaid community service work.

"You have got no money at all and I make no order for compensation or costs," he added sentencing her to an untagged nine-month curfew, which must be complied with between 8pm and 6am daily.